Dec 88-Dec 92
Bill Foulkes was a granite-hard defender who was discovered playing for
Whiston Boys Club in 1950. In early days he combined his work at Lea Green
Colliery with his football career, as he graduated through from the Manchester
League to the Football League in season 1952-3. He made a rapid rise to
prominence, initially as a steady, competent right full-back but later
excelled as a resilient, traditional rock of a centre-half, a position
which he preferred. An unscathed survivor of the Munich air crash, he immediately
took over the capitancy of UNITED`s depleted
ranks and led the brave bid to lift
the 1958 FA Cup, which faltered only when Wembley was reached, Bolton Wanderers
winning 2-0 in the final.

Ironically, considering that Bill Foulkes spent 18 seasons battling
to prevent goals, he is remembered by many for the handful of goals he
did score. His first Football League goal against Newcastle United
in 53-4 was netted from near the half-way line. Most significantly, the
goal he scored in the 3-3 draw against Real Madrid in Spain in 1968 put
UNITED into the European Cup Final. Dedicated,
strong as a bull, extremely fit and powerfull aerial force, Foulkes was
a sterling, loyal sevant who won a record four League Championship medals,
and then a crowning European Cup winners`medal at the late age of 36.

In the FA Cup, he collected one winners`medal (1963) and two finalist
awards (1957 & 1958). He was capped once by England, just two years
after his UNITED debut, and twice at U-23
level. He represented the Football League on two occasions. Bill Foulkes`
grandfather captained St Helens Rugby League club and was an international.
His father also played for St Helens and appeared in League Football with
New Brighton in the Third Div North. NOTE: Bill Foulkes`unique collection
of medals and othe mementoes of his long and distinguished career were
auctioned at Christies in Oct 92. A collection of 20 items raised almost
35,000 pounds. His European Cup medal alone realised 11,000 pounds, and
his jersey

A United legend by Paul Hinson

June 2000
Some time ago I made a pact with my partner to go to the Gym twice a
week, part of the price for having a good eating lifestyle. On Saturday
afternoon, before the wiles of Euro 2000 returned to the TV screen, we
fitted in another workout.
A silver-haired man, tall and imposing, was busy on the upper-body
equipment. I have never been one for autographs, or idolising players,
but a second glimpse told me who he was. Usually I don't like to
bother the gifted and famous, but eventually I decided to approach him.
He must have been a dedicated trainer in his playing days, the effort
and sweat was impressive for a man of his age, and you could see
how he was proud of his physique even now.
I chatted with him for merely a couple of minutes, and then he was gone.
It shouldn't have been much of a surprise really, I knew he had lived in
my area, Sale, for a long time.
My partner asked me who he was? I told her how he had been a
first-teamer for 18 years, how he made his debut long before my
time, at Anfield in 1952, how he survived the Munich Crash, and figured
in Uniteds golden triumph of 1968. How he gave up a better-paid job
down the pit to become a United stalwart, tough, reliable, not flashy
but dependable, how he sold his medals, including 4 League
Championship medals, and presumably his England cap too, in the
early 90s as he needed the money. How he missed out on
the big money that todays players rake in, being on the £20 a week
maximum for many years.
My chat with him was brief. I asked how his knee was treating him,
and he told me, not so good. He mentioned that he still sees most
home games, but is coaching still for the Manchester FA, and is asked
to show the parties of Japanese visitors around the Stadium, thanks
to his links with that country after 4 years coaching spent there.
I told him that I hope I am motivated the same way at his age to go to
the gym. He smiled, and proudly said, "I am 68 you know." I didn't
tell him I had worked that out moments before in my head, from his
debut back in 1952, to his last outing against Southampton in 1969....
Oh yes, for those few who didn't work him out, it was Bill Foulkes.